sell him and buy you a real live horse and a stanhope,
such as city ladies have; and there must be a saddle so that you can
ride."

"Oh I'd love that!" cried the Girl. "I always wanted to ride! Where are
we going?"

"To show you Medicine Woods," said the Harvester. "I've been waiting
for this. You see there are several hundred acres of trees, thickets,
shrubs, and herb beds up there, and if the wagon road that winds between
them were stretched straight it would be many miles in length, so we
have a cool, shaded, perfumed driveway all our own. Let me get you a
drink before you start and the little shawl. It's chilly there compared
with here. Now are you comfortable and ready?"

"Yes," said the Girl. "Hurry! I've just longed to go, but I didn't like
to ask."

"I am sorry," said the Harvester. "Living here for years alone and never
having had a sister, how am I going to know what a girl would like if
you don't tell me? I knew it would be too tiresome for you to walk, and
I was waiting to find a reliable horse and a suitable carriage."

"You won't scratch or spoil it up there?"

"I'll lower the top. It is not as wide as the wagon, so nothing will
touch it."

"This is just so lovely, and such a wonderful treat, do you observe that
I'm not saying a word about extravagance?" asked the Girl, as she leaned
back in the carriage and inhaled the invigorating wood air.

The horse climbed the hill, and the Harvester guided him down long, dim
roads through deep forest, while he explained what large thickets of
bushes were, why he grew them, how he collected the roots or bark, for
what each was used and its value. On and on they went, the way ahead
always appearing as if it were too narrow to pass, yet proving amply
wide when reached. Excited redbirds darted among the bushes, and the
Harvester answered their cry. Blackbirds protested against the unusual
intrusion of strange objects, and a brown thrush slipped from a late
nest close the road wailing in anxiety.

One after another the Harvester introduced the Girl to the best trees,
speculated on their age, previous history, and pointed out which brought
large prices for lumber and which had medicinal bark and roots. On and
on they slowly drove through the woods, past the big beds of cranesbill,
violets, and lilies. He showed her where the mushrooms were most
numerous, and for the first time told the story of how he had sold them
and the violets from door to door in Onabasha i